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Lohani, Fateh (1920-1975) actor, film director,
writer and journalist. Fateh Lohani wrote stories, screenplays and music
and also worked as a producer of radio programmes, a newscaster, recitation
artist and a translator. He was born in sirajganj.
He received school education in calcutta
and obtained matriculation from St. Mary's Cathedral Mission High School.
He completed his studies in IA and BA programmes in Ripon College. He
went to London in 1950 and completed a two years course on drama producing
at the Oldwick Theatre School. Simultaneously, he took film education
as a member of the British Film Institute.
During studies in school at Calcutta Fateh Lohani used to perform
caricature, acted in dramas and recited poems. At the Ripon College
he acted in many Bangla and English dramas including Sri Madhusudan
written by Banaful and Hamlet directed by Utpal Dutta.
Later, he was associated with amateur drama groups and theatre
stages. He also directed Sirajuddaula and was one of its
key actors. He acted in Ramer Sumati at the famous Bani
Theatre Stage.
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Fateh Lohani |
Impressed by his performance in the Nara-nari
of Hemen Roy staged at Rangmahal at the initiative of Alok-Tirtha, a professional
drama group, the eminent cameraman and filmmaker Bimal Roy offered him
an opportunity to act in a small role in a Hindi film Hamrahi (1945).
Fateh got a nickname Kiran Kumar. At this time he also acted in a drama
Joar written and directed by Udayan Chowdhury (Ismail Mohammad)
and produced by Rangila Art Corporation and in the film Dukkhe Jader
Jiban Gada written, directed and produced by Himadri Chowdhury (Obayed
Ul Haq). Lohani started his profession of a journalist and writer at Calcutta
before the partition
of bengal (1947). He worked for the daily Azad and weekly
Ittehad. After 14 august 1947, he joined Dhaka Radio as a newscaster
and continued taking part in drama and poetry recitation.
Fateh Lohani had also composed music. He played a leading role in publication of the monthly literature magazine Agatya since 1949. The same year he joined the Karachi Radio and later, BBC. On his return to Dhaka in 1954, he started producing films and simultaneously, worked in radio, acted in drama and carried the profession of writing. The first
to feature films directed by him after the establishment of Film Development Corporation in 1957 were Akash Ar Mati (1959) and Asia (1960). The Urdu film Satrang directed by him was released in 1965. The first televised drama in which Fateh Lohani played a role was Nirbhik and the first film of Dhaka in which he played a role was Raja Elo Shahare (1964). Other films in which Fateh Lohani acted include Muktir Bandhan (1947), Tanha (1964), Behula (1966), Fir Milenge Ham Dono (1966) Agun Niye Khela (1967), Darshan (1967), Julekha (1967), Etotuku Asha (1968), Balyabandhu (1968), Momer Alo (1968), Mayar Sangshar (1969), Mishar Kumari (1970), Tansen (1970), Akabaka (1970), Antaranga (1970), Ghurnijhar (1970), Swaralipi (1970), Darpachurna (1970), Dip Nebhe Nai (1970), Apabad (1970), Daku Mansur (1974), Dui Rajar Kumar (1975), Ek Mutho Bhat (1975) and Kuasha (1977). Some of the dramas written by Fateh Lohani are Nivrita Sanglap, Dur Thekey Kachhey and Sagar Dola. He translated some dramas such as Death of a Salesman (Arthur Miller), Lazarus Laughed (Eugene O'Neill), Mourning Becomes Electra (Eugene O'Neill) and The Oldman and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway). Fateh Lohani was honoured by the President Award and Nigar Prize of Pakistan in 1961 (for his film Asia in the category of best production), Mazid Almakki Award of Pakistan in 1968 (best actor in radio drama), Bangladesh Film Journalists Association Award in 1975 (for acting in films) and the Silver Jubilee Trophy of FDC in 1983.
Fateh Lohani died on 12 April 1975 while he was in work
during the shooting of his film Kuasha at kaptai
of Chittagong. [Anupam Hayat]
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